Longtime Arcata High history teacher, war veteran dies

These are some of the words friends and family used to describe retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joseph Frank Kasun, who died from cancer Feb. 21 in Bayside. He was 94.

"He's just a born leader, and I can't explain it," his daughter Christine Kasun Moruza said. "He had a real sense of humor, loved to golf, loved his grandchildren. He had many local friends here that kept him company. He had a busier social life than I did."

Kasun was born in Lowell, Ariz., a small southern Arizona mining town.

During his life, Kasun served in the United States Army, fought in World War II and the Korean War, worked for the Pentagon, taught U.S. history and American government at Arcata High School and U.S. history at Humboldt State University.

While in the Army, he became a sergeant, and attended Officer Candidate School. He was soon promoted from second lieutenant to first lieutenant to captain. After returning from World War II, he graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and was again promoted, this time to major. He served as a military adviser to the Capitol Roc Infantry Division of the Republic of Korea Army in the Korean War.

Kasun also received numerous prestigious honors for his efforts in combat including two Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, a Purple Heart, two Army commendation awards, American Defense, American Campaign, four European Campaign awards, Army of Occupation, Berlin Airlift, National Defense, four Korean Defense awards, United Nations Korean Service, Korean presidential unit citation, a Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Action Ribbon and a nomination for the Medal of Honor.

When he returned from World War II, Kasun married his wife, Jacqueline, and started a family.

"He was a real rough-and-tumble boy, but he loved school, which is a paradox," Moruza said. "He did well in school. His senior year, a teacher looked at him and said, 'You should be a history teacher because you're such a good reader.'"

While working for the Pentagon, Kasun attended Park University at night to earn his bachelor's degree in history. He retired from the Army in 1963. He then earned master's degrees in history and political science from the University of Arizona at Tucson. His master's thesis on the U.S. Army occupation of Mexico under Gen. Winfield Scott in 1847 to 1848 is in the library of the U.S. Army War College.

"He said while he wouldn't trade his Army experiences, he really enjoyed teaching," Moruza said. "He just loved it."

Kasun taught at Troy High School in Fullerton for four years, and at Arcata High School for 22.

"I think he was just a beloved teacher," Moruza said. "He was a longtime teacher who many of the students loved and admired. He was very sharp. Up to the very end, you could ask him anything about U.S. history or government and he could tell you right up until the very end."

While teaching at Arcata High School, he served as the senior class adviser and chairman of the social sciences department. He also took students to the Model United Nations in Berkeley.

"Some students called," Moruza said. "Some say he was the best teacher they ever had. I heard that numerous times."

Kasun taught U.S. history classes part-time at Humboldt State University for a few years as well.

"He did a very good job," said Claude Albright, former chair of the history department at HSU. "The student evaluations were excellent. The students really liked him. We were quite pleased and happy with him helping us out with these classes."

"He was basically a straight-up lecturer, but he made it very interesting, and always was able to answer students' questions," Albright added. "He made things in history sound very personal."

Good friend John Grobey will remember what he called Kasun's disposition. "His willingness to listen to points of view, and engage in conversations about matters. He was a staunch patriot believer in this country. He generally not particularly outspoken. ... He was very quiet, a private person," Grobey said.

"Vets talk to each other more than other people," Grobey said. "It's part of a culture. We just enjoyed each other's company. We talked about the books we were reading, things that happened that had mostly to do with the military and with people serving in the military."

In his spare time, Kasun enjoyed golfing, taking care of animals, working around the house and visiting friends. He also volunteered as a lay reader in the Anglican Catholic church.

"He will very, very much missed," Grobey said. "Absolutely. To me he was a mentor."

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, located at 615 H St., Eureka. Interment will be with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Kasun will rest in peace next to his wife and fellow Army veteran Jacqueline, who died in 2009. In lieu of flowers, people are asked to donate to the Disabled Veterans of America or the Wounded Warrior Project.